Did you already sign up for the LOCAL SOLUTIONS: Northeast Climate Change Preparedness Conference May 19-21, 2014? Wonderful! Your ticket should be in your email.
Do you wish to update your registration? To add events to your agenda and sign up for the Keynote Dinner & Conversation and expert Workshops on 5/19, please click on Register Now! below.
FEATURING
Dinner & An Evening Conversation with Keynote Speakers
Monday, May 19, 6:00 – 8:15 PM
Bob Perciasepe – Deputy Administrator, U.S. EPA
Bina Venkataraman – White House Senior Advisor on Climate Change Innovation, Executive Office of the President of the United States
Come listen to White House Senior Advisor on Climate Change Innovation, Bina Venkataraman, speak directly about how the U.S.'snew Climate Data Initiative, with support from NASA and NOAA leadership, will create unprecedented levels of public-private sector partnership in developing resources to address climate change, including mapping tools for sea level rise. The program is part of the President's Climate Action Plan "to make government-held data more accessible to the public, entrepreneurs, researchers, and others as fuel for innovation and economic growth." As part of the LOCAL SOLUTIONS Dinner & Conversation with Keynote Speakers, you will also learn from EPA Deputy Administrator, Bob Perciasepe, about the role that federal agencies have in supporting local and regional initiatives to protect our communities from climate impacts.
You can also sign up for Professional Development Sessions on May 19:
WORKSHOPS
Monday, May 19, 8:30 – 11:30 AM
Workshop 1: Reducing Community Vulnerability Through Ecological Design (W1)
Are you looking for innovative ways to build resiliency in your community or region? Are you planning for future food, energy, economic and ecological needs within your community or region in order to address climate mitigation and adaptation? Have you considered how current municipal plans and regulations may be in conflict with creating a sustainable, resilient community? Join Steve Whitman, AICP, for an informative and interactive workshop on building resilient communities that reduce vulnerabilities to recent and future severe weather events. This workshop will include: A framework for working toward ecological solutions for your community or region; Tools to identify barriers to more resilient climate mitigation and adaptation solutions; Opportunities to create more resilient solutions that are grounded in the culture and geography of your community or region; and A range of case study examples.
Facilitator: Steve Whitman, AICP - Planning Consultant and Educator, Resilience Planning and Design, LLC
Monday, May 19, 8:30 – 11:30 AM
Workshop 2: How can psychology support behavior change toward climate mitigation and adaptation? (W2)
Ecological problems are the result of millions of daily decisions, some large (e.g. should I insulate my house?) and some small (e.g. should I turn on the AC today, or use a fan?) When people make these decisions, they are rarely driven by their concern about the environment or their desire to live sustainably; their actions are largely determined by situational circumstances that they may not even be consciously aware of.
How can we create the circumstances that encourage and support resource-conserving behavior? I am one of a small but growing group of psychologists tackling this question. Our research offers insight into the factors that nudge people toward less wasteful and more ecologically balanced lives. In addition, the research explores how and why people join together to work toward larger-scale, sustainable change. In this workshop and discussion, I will talk about some of these factors, for example social norms, tangible feedback, social identity, sense of competence, sense of efficacy, and finding a balance between communicating urgency and a positive vision. We’ll discuss how we can apply these findings in communication campaigns as well as behavior change efforts, and in every part of our lives: in our everyday personal decisions, at work, in our communities, and in our efforts toward larger-scale global change.
Facilitator: Dr. Christie Manning - Professor of Psychology
Monday, May 19, 8:30 – 12:00 PM
Workshop 3: Coffee & Conversation with American Society of Adaptation Professionals (W3)
The American Society of Adaptation Professionals (ASAP, www.adaptationprofessionals.org), is the only professional society in America focused on climate change adaptation and resilience. ASAP is hosting its first Northeast U.S. regional networking meet-up in conjunction with the Antioch/EPA Local Solutions conference. So, don’t miss this opportunity to connect with other ASAP members, network, and share information on promising practices from your work on adaptation. Not a member yet? No problem. Stop by, chat with members, get the scoop, share your experiences, and help build resilience across the region.
Facilitator: Debra Perry - Senior Program Officer for U.S. Climate & Environment Program, Institute for Sustainable Communities & American Society of Adaptation Professionals